Republic Services and Mack Trucks,
Inc. have formed a partnership
that allows Republic to field-test
four pre-production diesel garbage
trucks equipped with selective
catalytic reduction (SCR) technology
and to field test the first
American-built Mack Diesel Hybrid
garbage truck.

Republic is field testing the
SCR prototype trucks in Denver
(high altitude); Eden Prairie,
Minnesota (cold climate); and
Lakeland and Ft. Lauderdale,
Florida. (humid climate). Using
SCR technology, the trucks meet
the United States Environmental
Protection Agency emission regulations
without using engine emission
credits. Republic is committed
to using multiple technologies
to lower fuel consumption and
emissions.

“Republic has been field testing
the Mack SCR prototype garbage
collection chassis,” said Ron
Cole, regional fleet sales manager
for Mack Trucks. “This quickens
the pace of our development
of technologies that can be
implemented immediately to protect
our environment. Republic and
Mack will continue to partner
in the development of hybrid
diesel-electric prototypes as
both our companies explore opportunities
to adopt hybrid at the heavy
duty level for the collection
of wastes and recyclables.”

Mack says its diesel electric
hybrid technology provides the
maximum fuel savings on routes
with frequent braking and accelerations.
This means that in addition
to refuse collection work, it’s
good for urban delivery runs
and certain construction applications.

Mack estimates its hybrid system
can boost fuel economy by about
20 percent while cutting greenhouse
emissions and the cost of maintenance.

In addition to its work at highway
speeds, the engine also charges
an onboard energy storage system,
which provides power to the
electric motor when demand is
high. Energy that is generated
during braking is captured and
stored using regenerative braking.